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1. THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
BAHCESEHIR UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
International Architectural Criticism Environment
Architecture Criticism in Syria:
Architectural Syrian Identity Criticism Before and After the Crisis
ARC5411 - Architectural Criticism 17/18
Pro.Durnev Atilgan
Abdulaziz Almansour
ISTANBUL, 2017/2018

2. 1
CONTENTS
FIGURES.............................................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................2
2. THE ATMOSPHERE OF ARCHITECTURE CRITICISM IN SYRIA ………………...…...3
2. THE PROBLEM OF SYRIAN ARCHITECTURE ............................................................4
3. HOW YOUNG ARCHITECTS CRITICIZE IN SYRIA.......................................................6
3. 1 The battle for home: the version of a young architect in Syria......................6
3. 2 Architecture in Syria cause loss of identity and social cohesion……………8
4. CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................9
4. REFERENCES...............................................................................................................10
Key Words:
Cultural Identity – Old City – Social Cohesion – Lost Style - Copying
FIGURES
Figure 1: Al Abed Building…………………………………………..................................5
Figure 2: Al Abed Building Balcony ….........................................................................5
Figure 3: Italian School Building..................................................................................6
Figure 4: French Hospital Building..............................................................................6
Figure5: Twin Tower Hotel in Homs...........................................................................7
Figure6: Ruined Building in the Old City of Homs......................................................7

3. 2
Introduction:
The local architectural crisis which was experienced in Syria is not limited at all levels to the
identity problem, but it is also manifested in many aspects, such as the lack of architectural and
art critics, the lack of literature and architectural theory, including the absence of the necessary
scientific terms. In addition, the technical backwardness and ignorance of the latest developments
in the architecture field and the difficulty of analyzing the phenomenon of architectural art which
lies in the absence of terms and scientific concepts that indicate them. The issue of local
architectural identity and the relevance to its homeland is a new old matter, whose resonance has
recently been particularly noticeable at the local level.
Architecture is an aesthetic artistic phenomenon, one of the embodiments and changes of identity
and local privacy and as a result of the value and valuation clashes of contemporary architectural
trends, the interest is focused on architecture from variety aspects: philosophical, cognitive,
functional, formal and informational.
After the emergence of an important urban event or when the complexities of the architectural
issue arising from the problem of changing the architecture of the old cities, these actions often
result in a kind of collision between two different forms of architecture, western and eastern
heritage.1
And this collision happened because of the lack of Syrian literature from periodicals, journals and
newspapers for serious studies dealing with architecture in terms of environmental, social,
developmental and historical aspects.
This research will examine the general atmosphere of architectural criticism in Syria through
analysing the reasons behind the lack of this activity which influenced the Syrian architecture
identity and it will focus on two cases dealing with the architecture identity in a different manner.
The first case will be the architecture criticism texts before the Syrian crisis through analysing the
problem of Syrian architecture according to the view of Afif Bahnassi2
. While the second case will
be after the Syrian crisis with the view of a young architect Marwa Al-Sabouni3
criticizing the
architecture of Syria and trying to show how architecture has played a vital role in creating,
directing and heightening conflicts because of the absence of clear identity and planning.
1. Bahnassi,A.(2009). Cultural identity between the global and globalization. Syria
2. Afif Bahnassi (17 April 1928 – 2 November 2017) was a Syrian Islamic art historian and
museum curator, General Director of Antiquities and Museums in Damascus, Syria. He has
authored books such as Ancient Syria and His Art (1987) and The Art of Islam, with Nurhan
Atasoy, published by UNESCO in 1992. He was on the governing board of the Research Centre
for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) based in Istanbul. Wikipedia
3. Marwa Al-Sabouni was born and raised in Homs, Syria in 18/9/1981. She holds a PhD in
architecture and has written several architectural articles which were published at RIBAJ,
Architectural Review, Wall Street International Magazine and other outlets and some of them
were translated into German and French. She is the author of ‘The Battle for Home’ published
internationally in April 2016 by T&H. Wikipedia

4. 3
The Atmosphere of Architecture Criticism in Syria:
It is rare to find a systematic scientific study that deals with architecture issues out of the university
knowledge field. It seems that the low level of interest in architecture and the narrow spaces
allocated to it contributed to the decline of it in marginal angles on the agenda of cultural concerns.
The general weakness of Arab urban literature especially in Syria in form and content, led to what
can be considered a decline in architectural awareness, which can be referred to the following
reasons:
• Distinguishing the faculties of architecture from social life and its separation from the
cultural climate and limiting its activities within universities:
In rare cases, there is a general lecture in the university medium that links architecture to
social life and discuses aesthetic schools and this is the case in most architecture associations
and chambers throughout Syria.
The size and quality of intellectual philosophical courses that deal with and discuss topics that
link architecture with society and the aesthetic values of human societies, have not yet taken
full effect in architectural curricular and the weakness of the courses that teach architectural
criticism are limited to the history of architecture, while the most courses focus on the
engineering topics as architecture in Syria is classified as architecture engineering.
Actually, we will not exaggerate if we refer to the weakness of the Syrian and Arab libraries
and their lack of books on architecture and art in the various stages of civilization that the
region experienced, including the Islamic period. In addition to the alienation of the intellectual
practicing of architecture from cultural life and the preoccupation with the issues of
professionalism contributing to this knowledge rupture in architecture.4
• The lack of books and references dealing with the technical, historical and philosophical
aspects of architecture, which is closer to the general culture than to the university curricula,
led to the low awareness in between the public:
The culture and the artistic visual taste, in general, have declined so much that any architecture
and urbanization topics are considered as a specialization issue and many readers and interested
parties in the social life of communities turn away from the themes of architecture in contrast to
other aspects of cultural life. In the same context, we note that the translation movement of the
languages globally for these type of books is very few.
In view of all this complexity, we are faced with two cultural issues, the first is linked to raising the
level of awareness of the architecture criticism and the second is related to critique and evaluation
of contemporary architectural production; therefore it is necessary to think about the creation of
associations or groups for architectural criticism that accommodate all interested artists,
historians, media and environmentalists to expand the public interest in architecture in order to
get the whole topic out of its narrow frame.
In Syria, architectural projects are evaluated and accepted by presenting them to specialized
committees or through a proposal competition before they are implemented on the ground.
4.Ali,A.(2001). from architectural awareness to architectural criticism. Alsharq Al-awsat
newspaper.8115

5. 4
But what prevents the expansion of this circle beyond the boundaries of universities and advisory
bodies, not only by the expansion of these committees, but also by putting the subject in the
cultural street and making architectural issues accessible to the press to reach a situation in where
the architect or designer realizes that his project will be dealt with critically, even if adopted by the
relevant committees.
I believe that architectural creations do not progress unless they interact with the wider channels
of criticism and evaluation and unless the architectural product is associated with the taste and
public awareness while at the same time, these trends not succeeding if they are not accompanied
by a wide dissemination of architectural and aesthetic knowledge, heritage, modernization and
futuristic innovations.
The Problem of Syrian Architecture
Professor Bahnassi raised this question through critical texts that were in the form of books and
articles. This research attempts to analyse these texts and reach a conclusion explaining the
reasons for the weakness of Syrian architecture following on from his views.
‘’In the search for the identity of the Syrian architecture, does this identity appear in the structure
of architecture as surfaces, spaces, lines, curvatures, beams, drawers and columns, or through
the decorative decorations on its walls and facades, for example in the palaces of Granada?” Afif
Bahnassi, Cultural identity between the global and globalization.1
Western political influence on the Islamic world was accompanied by cultural influence, which in
architecture represents the transition of architectural styles from Europe to the Arab countries
since the Ottoman era, especially public buildings, barracks and palaces.
Since Arab buildings belong to the modern classical style restored by Paris in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries and then we see buildings of the Baroque style that were spread
throughout Europe and were influenced by the buildings from the Ottoman Empire clearly during
the nineteenth century.
What we see in the local Architectural style in Syria at the end of the Ottoman period in many
examples in Damascus was carrying ancient Greek touches as a European-style building, such
as the Saraya building which was built in 1900 and a similar approach is noted in the new design
of the police building and the building of the worshiper, which was established by Azza Pasha al-
Abed and supervised by Fernando de Aranda in (910-1908).5
Then we see the colonial style which spread in southern Europe where the cities of the
Mediterranean including Arab cities along the shores of the southern Mediterranean.
1. Bahnassi,A.(2009). Cultural identity between the global and globalization. Dar Al Fikr
Publishing.Syria
5. Bahnassi,A.(2010). Damascene architecture and its interaction with architectural heritage and
modern world architecture. Alhyaat Altashkiliah.81-82-83

6. 5
Figure1 Al Abed Building 6
Figure2 Al Abed Building Balcony 6
This style spread under the title of openness to the West and Sultan Mahmoud II whose openness
we can interpret by the motivation of early modernity, which in our country is the principle of
estrangement with heritage such as the buildings of the Italian hospital and the Italian school are
the most prominent examples of this type.7
Then the modernity of the West came, which was also built under the title of modern style, which
was announced in France and Germany and moved to all parts of Europe. Then arriving late to
Syria after the Second World War, a new gown based on abstraction and neutrality, apart from
the interruption of all the original features.
The conditions of independence and economic mutations have given rise to a vertical increase in
the population, expansion of cities and increased facilities, until reconstruction projects have
become the largest share of income.
The rapid pace of economic, demographic and social transformation has led to the intensification
and acceleration of urbanization. Ready-made imported designs are the maximum that the
emerging architecture can fill in the urgent need of its society during the three decades following
World War II in Syria.
‘’In this architectural dependency, the desire of the pent-up consumer to pursue the culture of the
West in the field of modern architecture failed to grasp the dangers that led to the abandonment
of its identity, traditions and spiritual and material needs’’ Afif Bahnassi, Cultural identity between
the global and globalization.1
Dr. Bahnasi summarizes in many texts the problem of architecture in Syria, it absorbed new
functions in modern facilities, such as hotels and museums, but it could not link these functions
to identity, it took the complexities of functionalism of the new architecture without the search of
architecture identity and privacy which is no longer distinctive.
Thus, modern functions seem to be the obsession of architecture in Syria, so we have to link
these functions with a more authentic architecture that achieves the civilizational function and
achieves the modern focus and We will wait for more modern and complex functions "as the social
and economic life progresses , and we will need sincerer and scientific efforts to achieve a proper
6. https://arabic.cnn.com/middleeast/2016/05/06/syria-th-may-anniversary
7. Bahnassi,A.(2003). Imran Al Fayhaa) Damascus architecture). Dar Al Fikr Publishing.Syria

7. 6
Figure3 Italian School Building 8
Figure4 French Hospital Building9
heritage architecture for these new functions."10
• How young architects criticize in Syria
The battle for home: the version of a young architect in Syria
‘’I try to show how architecture in my country has played a vital role in creating, directing and
amplifying conflicts between warring factions, by facilitating poor choices and narrowing viable
alternatives’’. Marwa Alsabouni,11
The author deals with several issues and raises several questions looking at the circumstances
that led to the war, exploring – through her personal experience, using Homs city as the model
of focus on the interdependent relationship between society and architecture and explores the
role of urbanism in creating and inflaming civil strife. Also focusing on the ‘newcomer’ settlement
of Baba Amr which is a rural area surrounding the city, reviewing a history of prejudice,
alienation and corruption. Looking at pre-conflict housing in Syria and the role of architecture in
breaking down a sense of identity, the author examines the roots of lost identities in an ill-
advised stereotypical misconception, poor education and corrupt institutions, all manifested in
architecture.
The author deals with several issues and raises several questions looking at the circumstances
that led to the war, exploring – through her personal experience, using Homs city as the model
of focus on the interdependent relationship between society and architecture and explores the
role of urbanism in creating and inflaming civil strife.
8. http://www.esyria.sy/edamascus
9. https://tr.pinterest.com/pin/534802524495946902/
10. Bahnassi,A.(2009). Cultural identity between the global and globalization. Dar Al Fikr
Publishing.Syria. p355
11.AL-Sabouni, M. (2017). BATTLE FOR HOME: The vision of a young architect in Syria. Place
of publication not identified: W W NORTON

8. 7
Figure5 Twin Tower Hotel in Homs 12
Figure6 Ruined Building in the Old city of Homs12
Also focusing on the ‘newcomer’ settlement of Baba Amr which is a rural area surrounding the
city, reviewing a history of prejudice, alienation and corruption. Looking at pre-conflict housing in
Syria and the role of architecture in breaking down a sense of identity, the author examines the
roots of lost identities in an ill-advised stereotypical misconception, poor education and corrupt
institutions, all manifested in architecture.
Did Syrian architectures help inflame the country's civil war and wipe out the lives of hundreds
of people? That is the theory discussed in the authors book,in the book detailed lists of
architectural drawings of buildings and infrastructure
Alsabouni asks: How was it possible to destroy the cities of Syria and fall in what is called "the
nightmare of the animal massacre"? The city of Homs was taken as a case study, which is the
third largest city in Syria where its people live in relative harmony.
As well as the existence of spaces for each of different architectures either be commercial,
residential, mosques or churches all being close to each other.
But over time, classical designs opened the way for modernised designs imported into the
country under the umbrella of contemporaneousness. Such examples are the architectural
plans of the colonial streets, which tore down the historic architecture and the massive
apartment buildings that separated its inhabitants from the centre of the city.
By 2010, as Alsabouni pointed out, half of the Syrian population lived in "informal houses" called
shantytowns with huge certainty into lack of infrastructure.
"The fabric of our cities is reflected on the fabric of our souls," 13
the author believes that
stability, identity and community integration are the produce of effective urbanization.
12. AL-Sabouni, M. (2017). BATTLE FOR HOME: The vision of a young architect in Syria. Place of
publication not identified: W W NORTON.P150.177
13. AL-Sabouni, M. (2017). BATTLE FOR HOME: The vision of a young architect in Syria. Place of
publication not identified: W W NORTON.P85
After the destruction of more than 60% of the city of Homs, Alsabouni concluded that
architecture is one of the reasons for the outbreak of the war in Syria, unlike other causes such
as politics, economy and society.

9. 8
The writer goes back to the roots of the Syrian architecture which was represented as an
Islamic architecture according to her view and criticizes the colonial architecture and its role in
the fragmentation of society based on the economic level of Syria, which Alsabouni defines as a
tolerant country that combines different beliefs, sects and races without discrimination.
The author expresses the cohabitation of Islamic architecture, but it became divided and its
people suffered isolation a century ago after the French occupation as they dismantled the
Syrian people based on their economy level, faith and wealth, in addition to the destruction of
the aesthetic elements. Therefore, the author concludes that architecture became "a means of
differentiation and exclusiveness to the elite".
Alsabouni realized that "we can learn how to construct again," but wondered about the
mechanism of doing so; questioning whether buildings will return as they were before the war or
will they be based on class and community divisions, or will structures express the identity of the
community and the difference of beliefs.
The author wonders about the decrepit architecture and buildings: "How will we rebuild them
and what are the principles that we have to adopt in order to avoid repeating the same
mistakes?" Therefore, a completely new planning of the Baba Amr neighborhood, which was
completely destroyed, is based on the idea of creating an urban tapestry.
Inspired by trees, capable of growing and expanding; Alsabouni made this design for the United
Nations housing competition for reconstruction and won the first-place prize in 2014.
Architecture in Syria cause loss of identity and social cohesion
Marwa Alsabouni in Her books and articles have been widely covered by the mass media
including a cover story in the Guardian, Financial Times, The Times, The Huffington Post, New
York Times, BBC Radio’s several flagship programs, CNN and many other channels in the UK,
AU, USA and Europe. It was reviewed in TLS, Fraser Institute, Open Democracy, LA Book
Review, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her book was selected by the Guardian
as one of the best architectural books in 2016. She has been invited to participate in the UN
organized conferences and workshops regarding the post-war situation in Syria in Berlin, Beirut,
Basel and Geneva, she also participated via Skype in conferences for the Policy Exchange and
Architecture Foundation in London, SIX in Colombia, and Cultural Innovation Day in Matera, Italy.
She has done a TED Talk to be showed for the first time at TED Summit 2016 which has been
viewed online by more than 900 thousand people since its release.
Her articles focus on criticising the architecture in Syria in many ways: How can architecture in
Syria cause loss of identity and social cohesion, criticizing the thought of implementing slum
housing projects as her basic idea is based on an architecture that does not discriminate between
people of different races and religions. She believes that the Islamic style architecture was in the
past consistent with the human dimensions that advocate it and does not differentiate between
the residents of the neighbourhood of different affiliations, while contemporary architecture is
linked to a random group of elements giving them a deceitful Islamic appearance.14
14.http://skoll.org/contributor/marwa-al-sabouni/

10. 9
The author is focusing on the idea of a Syrian architectural identity that cannot be found in certain
architectural characteristics, but rather as a secondary product of a purposeful and beautiful
design, keeping within the spirit of the place.15
Conclusion:
The criticism literature in Syrian architecture focuses on a set of points which it seeks to form a
special architectural identity:
• Following the architectural heritage, which gave local architecture rich properties
imposed on the urban space and focus on the aesthetic points.
• Develop some design determinants to fit the environment and climate within a common
scale, relying on technology within a local framework.
• Rational use of available local resources to produce local economic architecture.
• Diversify the theoretical and practical training of local architects by defining the
vocabulary of this architecture and helping them to apply the rules, symbols, and patterns that
have been borrowed from previous models.
The responsibility of the contemporary architects in Syria necessitates him to live the past,
present, and future in his designs, innovations, and creativity because the past is still among us
with his architectural heritage radiating civilization and culture and imposing itself in the vacuum.
Venturi emphasizes the importance of the interdependence and correspondence between
different and divergent intellectual doctrines and the importance of its reflection on architecture.
"Good architecture will bring several levels of meaning and multiple foci of visual focus as it can
read its space and its elements in various ways at the same time," Robert Venturi,16
15.https://www.scidev.net/mena/engineering/feature/Marwa-AlSabouni-architect-conflict-
Syria.html
16. Venturi, R. (1966). Complexity and contradiction in architecture. New York: Museum of
Modern Art.

11. 10
REFERENCES:
• AL-Sabouni, M. (2017). BATTLE FOR HOME: The vision of a young architect in Syria.
Place of publication not identified: W W NORTON.
• Bahnassi,A.(2010). Damascene architecture and its interaction with architectural
heritage and modern world architecture. Alhyaat Altashkiliah.81-82-83
• Bahnassi,A.(2009). Cultural identity between the global and globalization. Syria
• Bahnassi,A.(2003). Imran Al Fayhaa) Damascus architecture). Dar Al Fikr
Publishing.Syria
• Ali,A.(2001). from architectural awareness to architectural criticism. Alsharq Al-awsat
newspaper.8115
• Venturi, R. (1966). Complexity and contradiction in architecture. New York: Museum of
Modern Art.
• http://skoll.org/contributor/marwa-al-sabouni/
• https://www.scidev.net/mena/engineering/feature/Marwa-AlSabouni-architect-conflict-
Syria.html
• http://www.esyria.sy/edamascus
• https://tr.pinterest.com/pin/534802524495946902/
• https://arabic.cnn.com/middleeast/2016/05/06/syria-th-may-anniversary
• Wikipedia